All Articles
Day in the Life Series: John Po’oi
Setting up Breakfast Club, working with ORS funded tamariki, helping out with gardening and singing for church and family functions - all in a day's work for John Po'oi, teacher aide at Papatoetoe South School. This series will highlight the incredible mahi done by our NZEI Te Riu Roa members.
Day in the Life Series: Kelsey Stanyer
From swimming to running to stretching, from equipment set up to breathing support — everyday is different for a physiotherapist at Arohanui Special School. This series will highlight the incredible mahi done by our NZEI Te Riu Roa members.
A family devoted to education: The Huntleys’ remarkable teaching legacy
It’s not unusual to have two educators in the family, but have you ever heard of six? Ako meets the Huntleys, a family from Marlborough who have dedicated their lives to teaching and their community.
Raumati (Summer 2023/2024) Book Reviews
Three pukapuka for tamariki and adults to kick start your raumati/summer reading list!
It’s Time to End Streaming in Aotearoa
All students deserve opportunities to achieve. The move to end streaming is a way of challenging socio-economic inequalities and the institutionalised racism that continues to persist in our teaching practices.
Day in the Life series: Tiana Ranfurly
From finding new ways to engage with tamaliki while folding Pasefika languages into everyday play, Tiana Ranfurly shares her day teaching at Toru Fetu Kindergarten. This series will highlight the incredible mahi done by our NZEI Te Riu Roa members.
Day in the Life series: Maiana McCurdy
The reality of teaching extends far beyond 9am-3pm, and for this kaiako in Whangaparāoa looking after our tamariki with complex needs, the teaching & nurturing happens beyond the classroom. This series will highlight the incredible mahi done by our NZEI Te Riu Roa members.
Mana taurite: the mahi behind the scenes
NZEI Te Riu Roa has launched its biggest pay equity claim so far – for all teachers. We talk to members who have been through the process and some involved in the new claim, to find out what out what’s involved – and why it’s worth it.
Day in the Life series: Delwyn Baird
Tucked away in a Whangārei kura, Delwyn Baird's day is filled with sport coaching, kapa haka, camp cook, advancing working conditions for all educators ... oh and teaching! This series will highlight the incredible mahi done by our NZEI Te Riu Roa members.
Day in the Life series: Marama McRoberts
There's a lot happening at Te Puna Reo o Te Koohao in Kirikiriroa - waiata, kapa haka, keemu, and teaching tamariki how to communicate their feelings and emotions. This series will highlight the incredible mahi done by our NZEI Te Riu Roa members.
“We were refugees” Displaced by the cyclone
While many schools and centres were damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle, a few were forced into long-term closure with staff and children having to re-establish elsewhere. Ako talked to kaiako from three different institutions that found new premises, or were taken in by a neighbouring school or centre.
The power of collective action
During the recent weather events schools have emerged as first responders to crisis in many close-knit communities. Where local authorities failed, groups of educators joined together as hubs of help. Ako spoke with one group of schools in Tāmaki Makaurau about their joint efforts in the face of crisis.
Surviving Gabrielle
In times of tragedy and crisis, schools are often the glue that holds communities together. At the close of term one 2023, Ako visited one small school in Hawke's Bay to learn how it became a regional hub after Cyclone Gabrielle.
July 2023 Picture Book and YA Book Reviews
Reviews of nine new books for tamariki and rangatahi.
Putting the Educational Leadership Capability Framework into practice as a middle and senior leader
Deputy principal Tania Yorke recently completed her Master of Educational Leadership. She shares what she learnt about developing as a leader and why the Teaching Council’s Educational Leadership Capability Framework is a goldmine of a tool.
Mānawatia a Matariki
As the Matariki and Puanga stars rise again in our winter skies, Ako asked members what Matariki means to them, how they celebrate it and how it supports their wairuatanga. Here’s what they told us.
Q&A with teacher and author Norah Wilson
Norah Wilson is a teacher at Bayswater School in Tāmaki Makaurau and author of the recently published picture book series E Oma, Rāpeti. She spoke to Ako about influences on her writing and her passion for sharing books in the classroom.
Learning from others
It is a pleasure to bring you the latest edition of Ako journal. As the new national president, I know I have a lot to learn, so the theme akoranga is not without relevance to me.
Building relationships with iwi – a regional and a national initiative
While eight tangata whenua iwi in the top of the South Island came together recently to improve outcomes for tamariki in education; another initiative has provided support for a growing number of principals and schools throughout several regions to connect with hapū and iwi since 2013.
Whiria te tāngata
Staff and students at two Te Tai Tokerau kura have been learning the challenging skill of tāniko and other weaving techniques. Ako finds out how this akoranga is supporting hauora and weaving the school community together.
Capturing communication
An innovative language project involving 19 kindergarten teachers has shown the value of collaboration and using data to enhance intentional teaching in early childhood education.
Te whakatipu toa reo
Puta noa i te motu e ngana ana te hunga tangata ki te ako i te reo Māori me Te Reo Turi/New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL), koia nei ngā reo taketake o Aotearoa. I kōrero ake a Ako ki ētahi o ngā ākonga e ngana nei ki te whai i tēnei kaupapa, ko te whāinga hoki ko te whakamana i ngā reanga e kake ake ana, e mōhio ai rātou ko wai rātou, nō hea rātou.
Growing language champions
Across the country people are making it their mission to learn te reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL), both official languages in Aotearoa New Zealand. Ako spoke to educators who have taken up the language learning challenge, with the aim of empowering the next generation to be confident in who they are and where they come from.